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Pastimes : The new NFL -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Carolyn who wrote (8625)	12/23/2004 9:43:36 PM
From: SE	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90886

This year we really should not talk about Green Bay much should we? :)

To: Carolyn who wrote (8625)	12/23/2004 10:01:43 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90886

NFC Game of the Week Vikings receivers Randy Moss, left, and Nate Burleson hope to be celebrating after Friday's critical NFC North game against the Packers ON FOX. (Paul Sancya / AP) Green Bay at Minnesota. The Vikings needed a botched snap on a extra-point attempt to escape with a one-point win at Detroit last week, but despite the close shave, there were many positives in their performance. They made use of their diverse talents at running back and wide receiver, and Daunte Culpepper, with the exception of one pick, was efficient in distributing the ball. Minnesota's defense did give up 27 points, but like other offensive-sided teams, the Vikings came up with a few big plays when they needed them. There's nothing that helps a defense more than putting pressure on the opposition to keep up in a shootout. The Packers have struggled offensively, as their running game hasn't been dominant. Although Brett Favre is capable of winning games by himself, he is officially in a slump, with only three TD passes and seven giveaways over the pass three games. Favre has a history of struggling at the Metrodome, but he came up with a huge victory there last season. Both teams can certainly light up the scoreboard, but you never know when either team will look naughty or nice on the field. That's because the coaching of both Mike Tice and Mike Sherman is inconsistent, both emotionally and schematically. The Packers just have been in the more giving mood of late, and the best game-altering player in this matchup belongs to the Vikes — a full-speed Randy Moss. Vikings 30, Packers 24.

To: Carolyn who wrote (8625)	12/23/2004 10:02:28 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Respond to of 90886

Parity time: Unimpressive Packers, Vikings duel for title Dec. 23, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports MINNEAPOLIS -- The Packers and Vikings have quickly forgotten about all their failures this year. Friday's showdown has fast arrived. Advertisement Rarely does one NFL regular-season matchup carry this much significance, but the league showed some foresight in scheduling this rivalry game for a nationally televised slot the day before Christmas. Though families and clergy members in these neighboring states aren't thrilled with the timing, many people will be delaying dinner plans and skipping afternoon church services to watch Green Bay and Minnesota decide the NFC North title. "If I was a little thinner I might even think of suiting up for it, but the only thing I have thin is my hair line," Vikings coach Mike Tice joked. "I'll just hold the headphones and the pencil." Both teams are 8-6, the Packers having rebounded from a 1-4 record and the Vikings having stumbled following a 5-1 start. Regardless of what happens in the final week, however, the winner of this one will be the division champion. Nobody cares that it's a down year for the North, as well as the entire conference. "It's just as big over here as it is over there," said Packers coach Mike Sherman, whose club has already clinched at least a wild-card spot. Minnesota needs one more win or one more loss by either Carolina or St. Louis to do so. After escaping Detroit with a one-point victory when a bad snap at the end of the game cost the Lions an extra point, the Vikings were full of energy and optimism this week - with two less days to prepare and their postseason hopes suddenly very clear. "We're fired up and ready for it," quarterback Daunte Culpepper said. The Packers blew a big opportunity at home last week, losing 28-25 to Jacksonville when Brett Favre turned over the ball four times. That doesn't mean they've had any trouble refocusing. "This is probably the biggest game that I've played against them, as far as what it means," said free safety Darren Sharper, who's about to play Minnesota for the 16th time in his career. Sharper and his friends in the Packers secondary, one of only two NFL teams to allow 30 touchdowns passing this season, will have plenty to worry about. Randy Moss didn't play in last month's 34-31 loss in Green Bay because of a partially torn right hamstring, but Culpepper passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns and nearly rallied the Vikings to victory without his star receiver.

To: Carolyn who wrote (8625)	12/23/2004 10:02:37 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Respond to of 90886

Parity time: Unimpressive Packers, Vikings duel for title « Back · 1 · 2 Though head and neck injuries will keep Robert Ferguson from playing, Javon Walker and Donald Driver give Favre two accomplished targets against a Minnesota defense that has endured another difficult season. Advertisement Favre's career record in the Metrodome is a mere 3-9, however, and the Packers have enjoyed the most success against the Vikings when Ahman Green runs well. In Green Bay's last two victories over Minnesota, including a 30-27 win on the road in 2003, Green totaled 42 carries for 282 yards. "If we have to get in there and wing it and we fall behind early, it's just makes it a complete mess," said right tackle Mark Tauscher. "You really do control the tempo, because if you're running the ball and putting points up on the board, that puts the pressure back on their offense to be flawless. If they feel pressure to score, that takes away a lot of their game." This game is sure to be intense and entertaining with so much at stake. Throw in national television, the holiday hustle and bustle and it promises to be one of the most memorable meetings between these Upper Midwest rivals. "They're in the way, and we're trying to get somewhere," said Nate Burleson, who caught a career-high 11 passes for 141 yards and a score against the Packers last month. Minnesota is the site of some of Favre's most forgettable performances. "In years past it hasn't been so much the dome as it has been us offensively, myself or the way they play against us," Favre said. "When we play up to our standards, I think we can play with anyone, anywhere." The winner-take-all theme for this game should help both teams prepare for the playoffs. "That's the atmosphere we're getting, and that's the type of mental approach that we have this week," Culpepper said. "Football itself is a great game, but these type of games are the reason you play." « Back · 1 · 2 AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

To: Carolyn who wrote (8625)	12/24/2004 12:37:12 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90886

Green Bay at Minnesota Matchup Breakdown \| Game Notes MINNESOTA (Dec. 22, 2004) -- The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings have been bitter rivals for years. A head-to-head matchup with the NFC North title at stake on Friday at the Metrodome should only serve to deepen that rivalry. Both teams enter this game 8-6, but while Green Bay has already clinched a playoff berth, Minnesota has yet to do so. The winner of this game will take the division crown, but the Vikings could also qualify for the playoffs even with losses in each of their final two regular-season games. Even with an 8-8 record, the only way Minnesota wouldn't reach the postseason is if both Carolina and St. Louis win their two remaining games and Seattle wins once more. Either a loss by the Panthers or the Rams in either of the next two weeks clinches a berth for the Vikings if they don't beat the Packers. "That's really what it's all about," Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper said. "If I didn't want to win the Super Bowl, I wouldn't play football. If I didn't want to be a champion, I wouldn't play. So for me to get to the playoffs, that's really the only thing I'm playing for. We have to play like that -- like every play is the last play." Adding to the intrigue of Friday's game is the short turnaround for both teams. Green Bay and Minnesota both played close games Sunday, with the Packers losing at home to Jacksonville 28-25, and Minnesota escaping with a 28-27 victory at Detroit. While most teams that played Sunday had Tuesday off, the Vikings and Packers were already preparing for this critical contest. Packers tight end Bubba Franks was asked which part of preparation was going to be more difficult for him and his teammates in the shortened schedule, their mental approach or their physical readiness. "It depends on how you prepare," he said. "I think coach is doing a pretty good thing in the things he's doing this week to prepare us. Our legs will be there, it's just mentally we need to make sure everybody's on the same page." Green Bay figured to stand a very good chance at clinching the division title at home against Jacksonville, but Brett Favre turned the ball over four times and fell to 31-4 at home after Dec. 1. Despite the surprising loss, the Packers became the ninth team in NFL history to make the playoffs after a 1-4 start. They clinched a berth before kickoff because Chicago, Dallas, Carolina and the Giants all lost. "Our goal is to win the division and that is still out there," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. Favre, hoping to rebound from one of his worst performances of the season, is just 3-9 lifetime at the Metrodome. "It hasn't been one of my favorite places to play," said Favre, who has split his last four games in Minnesota. Favre believes his team needs to have an effective rushing attack to beat the Vikings. "When you can run the ball, you limit their ability to just pin their ears back and come at you. If you fall behind and have to throw every snap, you're playing right into their hands," he said. "So, you have to be able to control the pass-rush. The No. 1 way to do that is by running the football." Starting running back Ahman Green hasn't rushed for a touchdown since Oct. 31 and is averaging only 55.5 yards over his last four games. Green, however, has rushed for 282 yards in his last two games against the Vikings. Minnesota caught a huge break when the Lions failed to convert an extra point that likely would've sent the game into overtime. "You take the wins any way you can get them," Vikings coach Mike Tice said. The game proved that Tice's team still has several areas of concern, most notably the pass defense, which allowed Joey Harrington to throw for a career-high 361 yards after he threw for 47 yards against the Packers the week before. Getting cornerback Antoine Winfield back Friday would be a huge lift for Minnesota. Winfield, who has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle, looked good in a workout, according to Tice. While Green Bay hopes to run the ball, the Vikings figure to let Culpepper look for star receiver Randy Moss consistently. Moss has more career receiving yards (1,213) and touchdowns (11) against the Packers than any other team, despite missing the last meeting on Nov. 14 with an injury. STANDINGS: Packers - 1st place (tied), NFC North. Vikings - 1st place (tied), NFC North. PACKERS LEADERS: Offense - Favre, 3,527 passing yards and 25 passing TDs; Green, 1,086 rushing yards and 6 rushing TDs; Javon Walker, 81 receptions, 1,210 receiving yards and 10 receiving TDs. Defense - Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, 9½ sacks; Darren Sharper, 3 interceptions. VIKINGS LEADERS: Offense - Culpepper, 4,133 passing yards and 34 passing TDs; Onterrio Smith, 539 rushing yards; Moe Williams, 3 rushing TDs; Nate Burleson, 62 receptions and 847 receiving yards; Moss, 11 receiving TDs. Defense - Lance Johnstone and Kevin Williams, 10 sacks; Winfield, 3 interceptions. PACKERS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 124.7 yards per game (10th in NFL); Passing Offense - 268.9 ypg (3rd); Total Offense - 393.6 ypg (4th). Rushing Defense - 116.9 ypg (17th); Passing Defense - 231.6 ypg (25th); Total Defense - 348.5 ypg (25th). VIKINGS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 117.1 yards per game (15th); Passing Offense - 283.1 ypg (2nd); Total Offense - 400.2 ypg (3rd). Rushing Defense - 127.6 ypg (23rd); Passing Defense - 238.4 ypg (27th); Total Defense - 366.0 ypg (29th). LAST MEETING: Nov. 14; Packers, 34-31. At Green Bay, Favre completed 20 of 29 passes for 236 yards and four TDs and Ryan Longwell kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired. STREAKS AND NOTES: Packers - Green Bay's offense has posted more than 400 yards in nine of 14 games this season after accomplishing that nine times from 2001-2003. ... WR Walker leads the NFL with 31 receptions and 518 yards on third down. ... DE Gbaja-Biamila needs one-half sack to become the first Packer with four straight seasons of 10 or more. Vikings - Minnesota averages 6.4 yards per play, second in the NFL. ... QB Culpepper is 132 passing yards shy of the single-season club record of 4,264, set in 1994 by Warren Moon. ... The Vikings are 29-12 when Moss has more than 100 receiving yards. ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Packers - 4-2 on the road; Vikings - 5-2 at home.